There is a hot and action drama just launched this March. The interesting point of this drama was the main character, Song Il-guk. He had not seen on the screen for quite a while and all of a sudden various news media released his totally worked out muscular body recently. I thought he was into a martial art or some kind due to his rather thin and strong muscles than big and plump ones like the body builders. After all he is the real descendent of the great general, Kim juwa-jin who spent his entire life to achieve Korea’s independence during the Japanese colonization period. I wouldn’t mind if he became a real martial art master or any kind of action related hero because his blood is well deserved.

A lot of fans were surprise to see his fascinating body shape and felt that something big was coming. That something was this drama, The man was called a god. This is originally a cartoon created by Park Bong-sung who was a well known cartoonist back in 80’s when I was a kid. I really liked his various works especially The son of god, which was also used for a movie. In the cover of the cartoon book, Choi Gang-tah the main character’s bare body shape were shown. It is so clear that Mr. Song Il-guk has been trying so hard to match that masculine body and the image from the cover and I think it is amazing how close he could get.

The first episode reached 15.8% view’s rate which was as twice much as the previous drama, The Jewelry Bibimbab (Bosuk Bibimbab). It has a lot to say about Mr. Song’s popularity and the viewer’s expectation to see some cool actions they promised. Of course there were other factors like other colorful stars like Kim Min-jong, Han Go-eun, Han Chae-young, and Yu In-young. There were several gorgeous ladies on the cartoon and those three top rated ladies are covering the roles. They all wore bikinis from the first episode. What a deliberate attempt to seduce male audiences from the beginning!!!

As we all know, Miss Han Chae-young has a excellent glamorous body line that is not common in Asian women. She took a reporter role in this drama and had to follow Kang Tae-ho (Kim Yong-gun) and ended up wearing her pink bikini and showed off her body. There also is another beauty, Han Go-eun (Vivian role) wearing her black bikini was at the same place with different purpose.

The three ladies expressed their awkwardness to show their swimsuit features at the press conference. Yu In-young felt that the others are more beautiful and taller than her. She skipped her meals and exercised more because she wanted to look prettier. Han Chae-young said that she was very nervous to show her body through screen and was her first time to feel small in filming. She also said she was the plump while others were skinny and good looking. Is there any way to read their true minds for this sort of comments? It should be interesting to see what they really felt one another.

Another interesting actor was Jin-on from the music group, Focus, had a role in this drama. Yu In-young (Jang-mi role) tried to stay away from him after Gang-tah showed up. He forced her to get his kiss and Gang-tah didn’t like him doing to her. He is actually a singer, not an actor, with some experiences of music video scenes and extra roles from dramas.  He did such a great job for a rookie although it was his first time to act with recognizable scenes and a role.  He may prove that he would be successful in his future acting career through this role.

The last person I would like to mention is Jang Woo-hyuk (H.O.T.) with his beloved song, Rain Man, Original Soundtrack.  This is the very first work after completing his military duty.  He had this song before he went to military and had kept it until the right moment.  When the director of this drama asked him to use his song, Rain Man, in his drama, he was

.

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East of Eden finally wrapped up the whole episode of 56 on the 10th.  Dong-wook realized what his real father did to him.  He set a trap to put his brother and Jackie in prison and he used his real son to take these two competitors down.  He got furious and told him in front that he would take him down himself.

It was not a happy ending for Dong-chul (Song Seng-heon).  He was captured by his brother Dong-wook and held on a prison but he escaped later to save Young-ran because he couldn’t just let her got hurt by the kidnappers.  He didn’t really have a great plan like Mike Scofield from Prison Break but he escaped from it and tried to save her life.

He of course got beat up by Jackie’s and it looked like they both would die there.  Dong-wook showed up.  He even came in without arm to save them both.  Dong-chul was impressed by his act and got a bullet for him.  I learned that another lessen here.  If you don’t know how to save others, just pray at home.  He died in his beloved brother and Young-ran’s hands.  It was a sad ending for for him because he died too young and didn’t have chance to make any final move on Shin Tae-whan.  So many viewers including me wanted to see him kicking some butts.

Rebecca put some hands on Shin Tae-whan instead.  She suddenly showed up for final event and put some ropes around him and sat together with Tae-whan.  He thought she was going to kill him and yelled at her that he was Shin Tae-whan, the immortal.  No one could put him down.  Her reaction was so calm like nothing was important any more.  She acted like she was the real person who already decided to kill herself.  His all the yelling made her decision affirmed.  She stepped on her car and dove into a shallow river.  It showed that the evil would get punished with anyone even another evil.

The main event in the final episode was the above and I wasn’t really moved by it.  It looked somewhat awkward ending that didn’t wrap up the whole story, I think.  I guess I expected too much from it.  However I thought about it would definitely have a great ending hidden that would be as good as the first parts of the show that had lots of action scenes and interesting plots from beginning.

Anyway, it was done and I hope to find a better one soon.

East of Eden- The Last Episode clip

East of Eden Original Soundtrack (OST)- Are you listening (Deot go itnoyo) by Lee Seung-chul

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They couldn’t find anything without the members of F4 or castings of BOF.  F4 Special Talk Show was the solution and I think it was a good choice under the circumstance.  On the talk show F4 released the 137 days of making Boys over Flowers.

The moderators were Hyun Young and KBS announcer Han Suk-jun on the talk show.  They invited all of the F4 members and wanted to hear about the behind stories of BOF.  More interestingly the show was filmed in Gu Jun-pyo’s house.  I guess it was the best place where they could show the viewers the actual filming place with their explanations.  I personally thought that was the excellent choice since Jun-pyo is so rich that the living room they used was just big enough anyway.

There were many interesting stories coming out of the F4’s mouths.  First of all Min-ho got selected for the role after defeating 200 contestants.  He said he permed his hair look like the original cartoon character and he thought it worked well.  He changed six times to get to his hair style now though.

Hyun-jung said he didn’t even know he was selected one of the F4s.  He was working in Japan and he read a news said he was selected.  He wanted to know what was going on and he called his agent in Korea although it was very expensive (he said).  His agent once told him to focus on his next album in Japan but he changed his mind and told him to work on the drama.  He sounded like he was confused of what he said but he suddenly changed that his agent is a nice person when Suk-jun asked him.  He really made me laugh on that.  I think he is funny and everyone agreed on that, too.

Kim Bum wasn’t easy to get the role since he was working on another drama, East of Eden.  He said he was surprised when he got that role.  Hyun-jung said he remembered him as a boy who cries a lot because he has many crying scene in East of Eden.  He was the youngest of the member and looked handsome and cute.

Kim Jun took the audition and he didn’t think he could get that role.  He also said it wasn’t just one time audition but there were many informal meetings involved.  Once he was introduced to a tall handsome young man.  He thought why he had so nasty perm.  He knew he was good looking but he didn’t know why he had to do it and why he had to meet him that evening.  It turned out that the man was Min-ho and the producer wanted them to get to know each other.

They also showed us dancing, playing the guitar and piano.  I would say that they did everything to fill up the promised time and tried very hard for it.  I really enjoyed their special talk show and I hope I could see something like this more later.   There are only 8 episodes left.  I am very curious to know how they will put an end.  It will be sad to see the countdown to the ending episode.  I hope to see more interesting stories the rest of the 8 episodes.  Am I asking too much?

They all visited Hye-sun’s ward and wished her get well.  They all worried because it was her face.

Their NG shots were so funny.  Hyun-jung was frustrated when the horse wasn’t really help him.  The NG King was Lee Min-ho.

He tried to play the song, Moon River, but I didn’t think he had time to practice it.  He had to stop it before he finished it.

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1. Agasireul butakhe- KBS Korean Drama
2. Agasireul butakhe- KBS Korean Drama

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On the 19th, The top entertainment news broke out.  Choi ji-woo had a hidden love and they have been dating for two years.  The lucky guy is Lee Jin-wook.  He is also a TV drama actor who is now starring at Yuri ui sung (A Glass Castle), SBS.  He is not a first grade TV star but he got a big spot light now owing a big time for his love and that will soon push him to the top grade star.

How did they first meet?

They first met at the drama, Air City, two years ago.  I still remember what he said through numerous interviews for the drama.  He said,”Choi Ji-woo is my ideal type and I am so happy to work with her.”  Choi Ji-woo didn’t really respond publicly to his words but made him her boyfriend.  I guess he must be her type, too.

How is it known?

Paparazzi took pictures of their dating moments and posted in internet.  They didn’t deny their relationship after their photos posted.  Of course there were so many questions to their agents and they also said that they got very close on the drama Air City but they are just good friends to each other, nothing serious.  They also said that they didn’t even know much about them until recently, believe or not. It looks that all they care about is unnecessary rumors made and affect their popularity.

Choi Ji-woo’s love story seems like Lee Mari’s from Star’s Lover.  Mari is a famous star and falls in love with a ordinary decent person but she has to date him secretly because her fame in the drama.  Ji-woo has been dating him secretly about two years.  She had to choose inside of Jin-wook’s car or his underground parking lot to date him with taking out coffee instead of going out to nice restaurants or cafes.  They must feel relieved now after long years of looking back and covering up their trails.

I believe their secret dating and everything about the news but I am curious about the timing.  Her love story broke out right after her starring drama, Star’s Lover.   Whatever reason it might be behind I hope they both get a better relationship with exposing their beautiful love just like the conclusion of Star’s Lover.

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From the top left Choi Jin-young is holding his sister Jin-shil’s portrait, , Na Hoon-ah is rigidly talking in a press conference, Seo Taeji is smiling in a press conference, and Choi Min-su is walking out from police investigation.

There were many good news but also unusually stunning bad news compare to any other years according to entertainment news experts in Korea.  Here are the list of top ten entertainment news in 2008.

1.  Choi Jin-shil committed suicide along with other celebrities.

There were many stars’ death.  The most shocking news was Choi Jin-shil was found hung herself in her house on Oct. 2nd.  That gave more shock because people just heard Jeong Sun-hee’s husband, Ahn Jae-whan’s, death on September.  People couldn’t believe the news of the top star’s death.  There were rumors about her lending money with high interest to Ahn Jae-whan and that caused him to kill himself.  Another problem occurred when her ex-husband, Jo Sung-min, reclaimed his rights of child custody after her death.  The case ended after he gave up his child custody and property rights for now.

There were more people imitated their death and worried about Werther effect.  Transgender entertainer Jang chae-won, fashion model and entertainer Kim Jihu, Group M. Street Lee Seo-hyun killed themselves.

Before their suicides, the singer Turtle man suddenly died with myocardial infarction and Monday Kids Kim Min-su and entertainer Lee Eon died in the car accidents.  These deaths gave a heartbreak to general public in Korea last year.

2. Ok Sori and Park Chul divorced and filed an adultery lawsuit on the Constitutional Court.

They divorced on October but had to meet on the court again because Park Chul filed a lawsuit against her for adultery and Ok Sori petitioned against the adultery law on the Constitutional Court.  The decision from the court was dismissal of her petition due to fail to meet the quorum, although more judges voted for unconstitutional.

The criminal trial followed against Ms. Ok and prosecution demanded 1 and a half years and 6 months imprisonment for Ms. Ok and her shack up popra singer respectively.  The decision from the court hasn’t come out yet and the dispute is not settled.  Ms. Ok’s mother disclosed that Mr. Park had never given her money for living and he sometimes spent 1.28 million US dollars in credit card.  Mr. Park said that is a lie, of course.  Ms. Ok is still appealing the unfairness through her Internet website.

3. Na Hoon-ah said, “Will you believe me if I show you?”

It was a big rumor about the great singer Na Huna and a celebrity K girl had an affair and her boyfriend, Japanese Yakuja gangster, cut his penis.  Meanwhile Mr. Na didn’t work over 1 year and the rumor just can’t stop growing and growing.  Kim Hye-su and Kim Sun-ah were pointed at the mysterious K and they publicly announced that is just a groundless rumor but they couldn’t stop the rumor.

Finally police was investigating on the case and it became an issue.  Na Huna called a press conference on Jan. 25th.  His way to drop the rumor down was so simple and effective.  He was standing on the desk right in front of all the cameras and the press, and said, “Will you believe me if I show it to you?”  He actually untied his belt and dropped down the zipper to show how much he had to do to stop this nonsense.  His charismatic and angry tone of voice and pose reminded the viewers that he is the legendary star, not a wimp.

He thought the rumor would disappear after some time but it kept growing and he couldn’t just let Kim Sun-ah and Kim Hye-su suffer through nonsense rumor involving himself.  There are many people give him their hands and he made people to think about decency in the cyber space.

4. Mun Geun-young and Kim Jang-hun are on a roll on good will hunting

Their warm hearted good deed continued this year.  Kim Jang-hun donated US $3.46 million dollars that he saved last 20 years to poor children and families.  He leaded the promotion of volunteers for cleaning oil leakage in west sea spending US $220,000 last June along with various types of volunteering works.  He also put an ad in New York Times about Dokdo and Donghae.

Mun Geun-young was the top young woman who donated highest amount of money, US $608,000, from last 10 years.  She also didn’t blow a horn when she helps others. She continued to help children cancer patients and made a foundation.  Other celebrities like Yu Jae-suk, Park Myung-su, Jeong Jun-ha, Jang Nara, and Hyun Young also found to be donating much.

5. Kang Byung-gyu wasted the public funding and accused for an illegal gambling charge.

On August wasting public funds of Beijing Olympic Entertainers’ Cheering Party was under inspection conducted by the National Assembly.  The total members of the party was 42 including a leader, Kang Byung-gyu and 21 entertainers.  They were spending US $142,000 which was aided by a government subsidy during the 10 days in China.

The problem was that many times they didn’t even find the tickets to get inside the stadium and they had stayed five star hotel which costs more than US $800 per night.  Mr. Kang explained that the prices in there during the game was outrageous and the celebrities needed a safe place to stay.  He also said that he didn’t know he couldn’t buy the tickets there.

On top of that his reputation rapidly dropped  after he was summoned on suspicion of his illegal gambling by prosecution office  His suspicion was that he had sent US $1.14 million to Internet gambling sites and lost US $285.000.  He strongly denied his charge but partially admitted later.  There seemed to be more celebrities are involved with illegal gambling and people were disappointed to hear that.

6. Korea Television Drama Production Company Association (KTDPCA) decided to ban on casting Park Shin-yang

KTDPCA decided to ban Park Shin-yang indefinitely on Dec. 5th 2008.  He was on Tsun ui junjaeng (The Original) and contracted to be paid US $122,000 per episode.  He sued the production company for not paying him about the half of his contracted guarantee.  KTDPCA could not accept his pay and decided to ban him and the Lee Kim Production from future castings and future production work from broadcasting companies, respectively.

There were big issues based on top stars hiked up fees and it finally exploded with this case.  There were great reductions on commercial volumes on the three major broadcasting companies (SBS, KBS, MBC) due to the recent economic slow down. Yet, top stars’ guarantees were skyrocketed due to the Hallyu boom and there were no ways to make decent films with paying so much money on one or two major celebrities.

According to an internal source from Production Director’s Association, Bae Yong-jun was paid total US $4.28 million to be on the 24 episodes of Taewang Sashinghi, Song Seong-heon  was paid US $50,000 per episode of East of Eden, Kwon Sang-woo and Park Shin-yang was each paid US $35,600 per episode of Motdoen Sarang(Bad Love) and Baram ui Whawon (Wind’s Flower Garden), respectively.

The three major broadcasting company directors discussed about setting a cap of the top guarantee as US $11,000 per episode.  But there are many critics say that the broadcasting companies and production companies are responsible for their hiked up guarantees, and Setting a cap is against of free market logic.  This is a complicated issue and is still in process of setting the rule.

7. Top stars like Kwon Sang-woo and Yu Jae-suk were hurry up to get married

There were extraordinarily so many top stars married on 2008.    The list of names are as follows, Song Il-guk, Kang Su-jeong, Kim Hye-ri, Park Eun-hye, Park Myung-su, Yu Jae-suk, Lee Yoon-suk, Kim Jin-pyo, Oh Ji-hyeon, Jang Hyeok, Kim Shi-duck, Kwon Sang-woo, Sohn Tae-young, Lee Chang-hun, Ji Suk-jin, Lee Byung-jin, etc.

More specifically there were many old aged stars were married in year 2008.  It was not only applied to stars but also the general public in Korea.  The reason was the next year 2009 has number nine which is not good number to have when you do some big or small events in Korea.  That’s why many old aged couples had to marry year 2008 otherwise had to wait until 2010.

Among the stars who got married on 2008, two couples were the most surprise cases.  They are the most popular MC Yu Jae-suk and MBC announcer Na Kyung-eun couple and Kwon Sang-woo and Sohn Tae-young couple.  MC Yu met her through Muhan dojeon (Ultimate Challenge) and got married on July.  His popularity based on quick wits and humble manners was so high that his sudden marriage must hurt many young women’s hearts.

Kwon and Sohn got married on September.  Two big Hallyu stars suddenly announced their marriage on July and it made people surprised.  Some said they had to marry so quickly for her pregnancy.  They kept denying on that suspicion but she already delivered their son on the 6th of Jan. 2009.  It only took 5 months to give a birth to their baby according to their denial.  He could not wait another 5 months.

8. Top musicians, Seo Tae-ji, Rain – Their splendid returns

Their return brought the vitality in the slowed down Korean music industry.  Seo Tae-ji stood up in front of his fans on the 15th of August.  It was 4 years from his 8th album MOAI in 2004.  Media welcomed him and put him on many great special stages.  He also played with Tolga Kashif, the worldly renowned British conductor, made a blockbuster music video, and was on funny commercial.
Bi (Rain)’s Speed Racer premiered in Hollywood and was cast another Hollywood movie, Ninja Assasin, and completed the shooting.  He came back with his 5th album Rainsm.  He took over music and all sorts of variety shows.

Lee Hyo-ri and Dong bang shin gi also came back to sing and idol singers like Big Bang and Wonder Girls got lots of love.  These resulted the boost of the music industry in Korea.  Especially Mirotic, the 4th album of Dong bang shin gi, sold 46o,ooo cds which broke the record of the top sold in year 2004.

9. Song Il-guk was involved in dispute of assaulting a freelance journalist

He was in assaulting dispute.  He didn’t want to have an interview with a female journalist who appeared in front of his house on January.  She suddenly claimed that she was hit by Song the day and got an injury which would take six months to heal completely.

The journalist filed a lawsuit immediately and Song also filed a counteraccusation on libel.  She claimed her teeth were damaged when he beat her face but he said he would’ve apologized even if a gentle push was made on her body.  He didn’t want any compromise and wanted his honor back.

Prosecution raised Song’s hand.  It said there was no distinct evidence that he assaulted her and cleared his suspicion.  She was indicted for a false accusation.  Song made sure that he would make the easy on the case if she apologized but she called a press conference and brought the fabrication of CCTV recording to make herself clear to proceed the dispute.

The court sentenced her one year of imprisonment on her on September.  She appealed and the trial is on the 18th of Feb. 2009.
10. Choi Min-su became a hermit after a dispute of assaulting an old man.

On April Choi Min-su was indicted without detention under suspicion of beating and taking off with the old man on hood.  It was a shocking news to the public but his charge was dropped.  He called a press conference when his charge was dropped and said how sorry he felt.  He apologized lowing his head without any excuses and even went to the hospital where the old man was treated.

He started his hermit life after that incident.  Police reported that his case was too much exaggerated by media and prosecutors dropped his charges.  He shut himself up in Gyeongi province (outskirts of Seoul) and refused to meet anyone.  He was supposed to work in a Hollywood movie but didn’t work out because of this incident.  He was also sentenced to pay back the guarantee US $72,000 he had received from a production company.

On the 14th of February he finally showed up in clean cut in public place with his wife Kang Ju-eun and parents in law after nine months of hiding out

Source: Starnews

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“War of money” shown in 2007 had the average rating of 30.5%. Other high rating cartoon-turned-dramas were “Full house” (29.3%), “Goong (Palace)” (21.7%), and “Il ji mae” (21.5%). Of course we should not forget “Boys before flowers”(20.4%).

Another finding of the research was that women enjoyed more cartoon-based dramas than men. Not surprisingly because romance cartoon has always been a good friend of girls.

Then what about “War of money”? Isn’t it a drama about dog-eat-dog plots among private moneylenders although not without romance.

Again women were shown to love that drama. But these women were those in 50s. Very likely result. They will surely love romance and money altogether.

Source: Sport Kahn, Newsis

Now let’s have a look how much drama characters look like those of cartoons.

War of money

Full house

Goong (the palace)

Il ji mae

Boys over flowers

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Australia / Brunei / Canada / Egypt / India / Indonesia / Iran / Israel / Japan / Jordan / Kenya/Mainland China (plus Hong Kong) / Malaysia / Nigeria / Philippines / Russia / Singapore / Taiwan / Thailand / Turkey / United States

So what made the drama so popular around the world? Of course, the success story of the heroine, Dae Jang Geum who worked hard to turn herself from a low position apprentice in the royal kitchen to a royal physician.

Now naturally a question can be raised as we are watching a historical drama here. How much of this is true or really happened?

First, Dae Jang Geum was a real person that we can find related records in Annals of Joseon Dynasty.

March 21, year 10 of the reign of the king,  Joong Jong (1515)

Dae Jang Geum appears for the first time in the historical record. Jang Geum took care of the second queen of the king, Joong Jong while she was pregnant. The queen bore a prince who will later become King In Jong. For Joong Jong, the birth was a cause for a big celebration as he had the first son. However, the queen died soon not overcoming aftermath of difficult childbirth.

Now, there was a question of responsibility of the medical persons who attended the queen. Saheonbu – Board of Audit – submitted a petition to the king that Jang Geum who was in charge of assisting the birth should be punished.

To this, the kins sent a reply like this. “Jang Geum, the female physician, did a sucessful job of attending the birth. She deserves a big prize. However, she did not receive any reward because of the queen’s death. Now the least we can do is to relieve her from punishment though we did not reward her. Punishment demanded by Saheonbu cannot be allowed. This is my decision based on balanced consideration of her contribution and mistake.”

Later, Saheonbu again request to the king to allow punishment on Dae Jang Geum but the king did not change his mind.

This record shows us a number of facts.

First, she was a physician from the beginning. She was not a court maid and never sent to Jeju Island in exile as in the drama. Dae Jang Geum served as a physician in the days of the queen Jang Gyung which was before the queen Moon Jeong who appears in the drama.

Second, the incident that Dae Jang Geum originally had a last name Seo but received new last name Dae – meaning “great” due to her contribtuion is a fiction. Her last name was always Dae.

September 5, year 17 of the reign of Joong Jong (1522)

Dae Jang Geum shows up again 10 years later in the Annals. On that day, Ja Soon Daebi, King Joong Jong’s mother, recovered from long illness and rewarded those who took care of her. Dae Jang Geum was one of the people who received the reward.

Year 39 of the reign of Joong Jong (1544)

Around this time, Dae Jang Geum appears several times in history .

Dae Jang Geum already earned a special trust from Joong Jong by taking good care of the king. The old and weak king needed her service more than before.

Then, two male physicians and two female physicians including Dae Jang Geum were taking care of the King.

In January, Joong Jong stayed long in bed for a terrible cold. In February, he fully recovered and rewarded physicians.

In October, Joon Jong’s condition got worse and even became critical. The king could not even defecate properly, and ministers were curious to know how bad he really was.

The person that explained the king’s condition to ministers were none other than Dae Jang Geum herself.

The next day, Joong Jong get a little better, ministers visited the king. when they asked him how he was, the king said, “the female physician knows what my condition is”.

The female physician that Joong Jong mentioned was Dae Jang Geum. This shows that Dae Jang Geum was the pyhsicain in charge for the King at that time. This also lends credibility to the drama’s argument that Dae Jang Geum was the first femaly royal physician.

It is unclear what disease Joong Jong was suffering from. But given that he had difficult in defecating, it may have been rectum cancer.

Dae Jang Geum lessened the sever pain of the King and succeeded in helping him gain some strength. However, the king’s condition was already at the fatal stage. Therefore, Dae Jang Geum’s job was not curing the disease but lessening the pain.

On 14 November, the king gave the throne to In Jong and died the next day. Dae Jang Geum did her best to take care of the king until he passed away.

After this, we find no more record about Dae Jang Geum in the Annals. So, we do not know what happened to her. We can only guess that it must have been difficult for her to stay in the palace as the king under her care died.

Apart from the above, all the other story in the drama is fiction. But this does not make the drama less meaningful or less interesing.

What is real is that there was an excellent woman who had a good professional skill in the history of Chosun and she excelled among male physicians in the male-domainated Chosun dynasty. At least on this point, the drama is not far from the history. The drama is also about the success of a woman that did her best to overcome obstacles and reached a top position in her field.

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“Why do you meet me~  Why do you hurt me.  I am giving you everything but why do you make me cry.  I will give you back as much as you hurt me.  Don’t tell me I am a bad woman~  Can’t forgive you!”

It is the OST of Temptation of Wife, famous for many physical fighting and yelling scenes.  The OST, Can’t forgive you by Cha Su-kyung, is the miniature of the contents of the drama.  It makes you what to expect from it.  The story goes like from the wrongful meeting and farewell, and cruel revenge.

Why do you meet me, why do you hurt me- it shows the bad fate with him.

I am giving you everything- It tells woman’s sacrifice.

I will give you back as much as you hurt me- It is a cruel revenge beyond your expectation.

Can’t Forgive you, The OST of Temptation of Wife

Original Soundtracks were simply background music a few years ago but it has changed its role.  It contains the story and let people know what the drama is about.

Then how to make drama OSTs?  Let’s dig some secret from it.

? OST, How to be made?

It is planned when the synopsis is formed.  The production company hires a music director to decide the overall ambience.  The music director begins to make an OST based on the synopsis.  Music director and writer have to continually communicate because it must contain the filming purpose, performing direction, and story development.

Two or three scripts are ready one month before on air due to the schedule.  The script is a good reference for the lyric.  Especially the title music needs to reflect the content and its flow.  Choi Sung-jun music director, Walking Mom, Cain and Abel on SBS, said that main title music is made with easy melody and lyric to show the color of drama

The mastering work is completed before the first episode starts.  The OST is released when the third episode is on air but recently it can be released before the drama is on air to create the atmosphere.

? OST, How to make lyric?
The synopsis decides the lyric.  If the drama is based on adultery, the lyric is about a woman bearing a grudge.  If it is based on love, it is usually about stimulating feelings.

In East of Eden, MBC, there comes the music Are you listing by Lee Seong-chul when Dong-chul and Young-ran cry for they can’t be together.  The lyric says I will wait for you always although you forget me first.  This matches with the scene and moves the audience’s heart.

Can’t forgive you, the main title music of The temptation of wife, also contains its situation and helps its immersion.  The writer, Lee Kyung, explains that I thought about it in my point of view when I read the synopsis.  I wrote it using the second hand imagination.  Yu Young-sun music director said it seems to have a synergic effect when the lyric that all the women can understand and drama match together.

Recently making OST is so important that it can decide success and failure of the drama.  Writers definitely refer to the synopsis because the link between the two is significant.

? OST, How to choose the OST vocal?
Today many vocals participate drama OST as visiting vocals.  There is a distinct tendency.  Top vocals do mini series work and rookies do longer drama works.  What is the reason for that?  According to Director Yu, most of the mini series are made by outsourced productions.  They put lots of money to make huge scaled dramas.  Therefore they think selling OST as an additional profit.  Top vocals likely bring more profit.

However daily or weekend dramas are usually as long as 50 episodes and self made by the stations.  Thus right rookie vocals can have the opportunity because they care more of the voice and ambience than of profit.

Usually 5 or 6 vocals participate for an album.  Top vocals get two and rookies get three songs.  There are many singers want to participate the work after popularity of OST gone up.

? OST, The higher self-esteem
Today there are many well made OST albums due to the great musicians participating OST works.  The OST is introduced automatically when it is sold to overseas.  It is a good chance to show Korean music and contribute to create more Korean waves.

The profit out of OSTs are another good factor.  It costs about 100,000 dollars to make an OST album.  It is the same investment to make a music album but it will be quickly earned before the end of the episode if there reaches a good enough viewer’s rate.  On top of that, It will make a decent profit if the main title music is hit just like If by Tae-yeon or Are you listening by Lee Seong-chul.  These music made profit worth of the 2 or 3 episodes production cost. These are the main reasons why OST market is developing incessantly.

Source: Sports Seoul

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MBC has made another awesome drama to broadcast in 2008.  It broadcasts at 9: 55 pm every Monday and Tuesday.  The view’s rate was all time high of almost 30% until another popular drama, Boys over Flowers, just happen to show this month from KBS.

The heartbreaking love story between Lee Yoen-hee and Song Seong-heon is the always the main reason for the top gossip between audiences.  Yet, it also puts the love story too much on the show that makes the quality of the story goes down.  There are lots of negative opinions relating to the quality of the contents on the site bulletin board and the net recently increasing.  I guess audiences are looking for little more than just a twisted love story.

It has still been loved by many Korean viewers and expected to make the good will prevail the evil toward the end.  Many obstacles and ruins on the main actor’s life looked pathetic and it seemed impossible for him to overcome all of the difficulties, but he has been so lucky to be successful without his intention.  I hope my life would be that lucky, too ^-^.  I think anyone would agree with that.  Just be nice and love your lady…  Then you will be rich and successful…  This idea should be happening in the real world all the time.

It is definitely good to see Song Seong-heon’s act after long absence of acting in drama due to the military duty.  It is the first drama he works on after the duty.  Doesn’t it make the one good reason to watch this one?  How does he act now compare to before the duty?  He won’t let you down.  Just want this drama to be tied up the last 10 episodes interestingly.

Source: MBC

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There are many beloved Korean dramas.  It is difficult to select which ones are the best because nationalities and tastes of viewers are different.  The ones that hit in Korea don’t always hit in other countries.  In here I would like to select the most beloved Korean dramas overseas to show the tastes of international viewers.
1. The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince

Other names to be called: Coffee Prince

Chief Producer:   Lee Yoon-Jung

Writer:    Lee Jung-a, Jang Hyun-ju

Premere in Korea:      July 2nd 2007

The end of in the air:  Aug. 28th 2007

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Cast:    Yoon Eun Hye as Go Eun Chan
Gong Yoo as Choi Han Kyul
Lee Sun Gyun as Choi Han Sung
Chae Jung Ahn as Han Yoo Joo

Number of Episodes:  17 + 1 Special Episode

Aired in:  MBC

Original Source: Coffee Prince, Novel, written by Lee Sun-mi, 2006

Synopsis:

Ko Eun-chan (Yoon Eun-hye) is a young girl who has to take care of her family after her father’s death.  She actually does everything to feed her family and finally finds a nice job in Coffee Prince.  The only problem is only males can work there for name’s sake.  Because of that, she has to lie and pretend like a male.
Fortunately she looks like a good looking male anyway and doesn’t bother her at all until she falls in love with Choi Han-gyul who owns the shop.
Without knowing her real gender he uses her to get rid of women who were introduced by his grandma, pretending like he and she are a gay couple. She gets close to him and he also has a feeling for her.  That worries him very much that he thinks he becomes gay and even goes to see a doctor for that matter.

In the meantime other colleagues in Coffee Prince find out Eun-chan is a girl and want them to get together but she does not allow them to talk to him.  Eventually Han-gyul chooses her regardless of her gender and wants to be with her that he thinks she is he.  He finds out the truth about her and feels glad that he doesn’t have to be homosexual.

2. Goong (aired in 2006)

Other names to be called: Palace (lit. translation) / Princess Hours (MBC Global Media) / Imperial Household

Director:   Hwang In Roe

Writer:    In Eun Ah

Premere in Korea:      Jan. 11th 2006

The end of in the air:  Mar. 30th 2006

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy

Cast:    Yoon Eun Hye as Shin Chae-kyung
Joo Ji Hoon as Lee Shin
Kim Jeong Hoon as Lee Yul
Sung Ji Hyo as Min Hyo-rin

Ost: Perhaps love  by How I&J (Cute and sunny lyric and neat melody appeals a lot)

You are fool  by Stay (Soft melody and voice might make you feel calm)

Miracle  by Howl

Number of Episodes: 24

Company:  Eight Peaks

Aired in:  MBC

Synopsis:

It is an imaginary story about if Korea was not under Japanese colonization and still keeps its kingdom intact.  Then, we must have royal family members and they must live in many different old palaces throughout Korea.

The King of Korea is sick and wants to have his prince, Shin, to get married before he dies.  The prince wants to get married to his secret girl, Min Hyo Rin, but she didn’t want it. There is a betrothed girl, Chae Kyung, who is notified that she should marry the prince.  She is in her high school and does not want to get married but she does after finding out her family’s financial difficulty.
She has to learn so many new rules in palace.

Moreover, the prince is so cold to her……. an unknown heir is found and there is a plot going on for the throne.. while the prince’s secret girlfriend, Min Hyo-rin, changes her mind to bring back her love from Chae-kyung with getting some help from Yul’s mother.
Many thought that unexpected and loveless marriage between the two total strangers might lead their lives into a misery along with many other negative facts and efforts.

However the story gets brighter as it heads toward the end. No one thought that Shin would be changed from an uncontrollable defiant to a prestigious noble man but he did it with his wife. They eventually make the reform and revolution of the palace that no other royal family members ever thought it would be possible.

3. My Name is Kim Sam-Soon (aired in 2005)

Other names to be called: My Lovely Sam Soon

Producer:   Kim Yoon Chul

Writer:    Kim Do Woo

Premere in Korea:      June 1st 2005

The end of in the air:  July 21st 2005

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Cast:    Kim Sun Ah as Kim Sam-soon
Hyun Bin as Hyun Jin-heon
Jung Ryu Won as Yoo Hee-jin
Daniel Henney as Dr. Henry Kim

Ost:   My Lovely Sam-Soon OST

Number of Episodes: 16

Aired in:  MBC

Synopsis:

It is a romantic comedy of a 29 year-old chubby and not charming looking woman, Kim Sam-soon.  She is dumped by her boy friend on the Christmas day and goes to restroom for crying out loud. Unfortunately she is in men’s room and happens to meet Jin-heon in her miserable state.

Later she meets him again but it is not a pretty one either.  Her hair is stuck his button and he cuts it.  She gets really angry and throws a cake she baked herself on his face.  Surely he gets very upset but realizes the cake has a great taste.  Soon she is hired by him in his restaurant as a patisseur.

One day she is having a blind date and is ruined by him.  She feels bad because she really wants to have a man even through a blind date.  Jin-heon realizes his bad behavior and tries to make it up for her.  They ends up drinking together until she got so drunk.  He can’t let her leave her drunk like that and has to bring her to his place.The next day his mother stops by his place and finds out her being in his place.  He has to tell his mom that she is his girlfriend and makes contract with her to be his girlfriend to make his mom happy.  Among their relationship, Jin-heon’s ex-girlfriend, Hee-jin who still loves him and Henry who loves Hee-jin appears and makes this story interesting.

4. Full House (aired in 2004)

Director: Pyo Min Su

Writer:   Min Hyo-jung

Premere in Korea:   July 14th 2004

The end of in the air:  Sept. 2nd 2004

Genre: Drama

Cast:   Rain(Lee Young Jae), Song Hye-gyo(Han Ji Eun), Yu Min Hyuk(Kim Sung Su), Kang Hye Won(Han Eun Jung)

Ost: I think I  by Byul (the lyric is about premature love)

Choum Gu Jarie  by Lee Boram (The singer’s great singing technique and husky voice appeals much)

Number of Episodes: 16

Runtime: 70 min.

Filming Locations: Shi Island, Incheon

Aired in: KBS TV

Original Source: Comic book, Full House, written and illustrated by Won Su-yon in 1993

Synopsis:

Han Ji Eun (Song Hye-gyo)’s father was an architect.  He died after completing the Full House.  Han Ji Eun was an internet novelist.  All she had were two best friends(a man and a woman) and the Full House.  Yet, the best friends had a baby but didn’t have money to raise it.  They sent Han Ji Eun to China for a bogus award trip and sold her house and ran away.  What best friends they are!!

She happened to know the Asian top star, Lee Young Jae (Rain), and got his help to come back to Korea.  When she came back to Korea, she found out the house was sold to Lee Young Jae. Han Ji Eun decided to live in the house as a housekeeper in order to make money and buy back the house.  Lee Young Jae found out what had happened to her house and took pity on her.He announced that he would marry her.  She didn’t want to marry him but she did it because the reward was her house back if she signed the marriage contract.  Their arguments were everyday routine but they truly fell in love with each other.

5.   Stairs to Heaven (Aired in 2003)

Director: Lee Jang Soo

Writer:   Park He-kyung

Premere in Korea:    Dec. 3rd 2003

The end of in the air:  Feb. 5th  2004

Genre: Drama

Cast:   Kwon Sang Woo as Cha Song-ju
Choi Ji Woo as Han Jung-suh
Kim Tae Hee as Han Yu-ri
Shin Hyun Joon as Han Tae-hwa

Ost:  Ave Maria, Bogo shipda (I want to see you)

Number of Episodes: 20

Aired in: SBS

Synopsis:

When after Cha Song Ju went to study overseas and came back, Jung-suh was hit by Yu-ri’s car and lost her memory.  Yu-ri hid Jung-suh with her biological father and let others think she got killed.  Tae-wha knew what his sister did but didn’t reveal the truth and stayed with her.Jung-suh worked at Song-ju’s company without knowing and got close together once again.  She got her memory back and the story looked like heading toward an almost typical happy ending but she got an eye cancer just like her deceased mother.  Tae-wha intentionally made an accident and gave his eyes to her but she eventually died.

6. Daejanggeum (aired in 2002)

Other names to be called: Jewel in the Palace / Great Jang Geum

Director: Lee Byung Hoon

Writer:    Kim Young Hyun

Premere in Korea:      Sept. 15th 2003

The end of in the air:  Mar. 23rd 2004

Genre: Drama, History

Cast:    Lee Young Ae as Suh Jang-geum
Ji Jin Hee as Min Jung-ho
Ost:  Onara by Kim Ji Hyun

Number of Episodes: 54

Aired in:    MBC

Original Source: Daejanggeum, Novel, written by Yu Min Ju

Synopsis:

It is based on a true story of a magnificent woman who achieves her goal with all sorts of difficulties and impossibilities around 500 years ago in Chosun era when Confucianism rules the time.  There was impossible for women and low class citizens may enter into male jobs and higher class society.

The slave class Suh Jang-geum (Lee Young Ae) is the only one who eventually becomes physician in charge for the king Joong-jong defeating all the competitive male doctors.  She also is very talented to cook helpful meals for her patients’ symptoms.  She does not stop there.  She receives the most honorable position for doctors in the era and the King even names her Daejanggeum meaning the great woman.

It is not much meaning for women in most countries in the world these days but she must be way better than any other copetitors at that time to stand out like that and must be a very loveable and decent person to get King’s heart.  Throughout the story, you will see how much difficulty she has to face to become the best and you will admire a person can survive from all those bad influences and malicious plots around her.

7. Winter Sonata (aired in 2002)

Director:   Yun Seok Ho, Lee Hyung Min

Writer:    Kim Eun Hee, Yoon Eun Kyung, Oh Soo Yun

Premere in Korea:      Jan. 14th 2002

The end of in the air:  Mar. 19th 2002

Genre: Drama, Romance

Cast:    Bae Yong Jun as Kang Joon-sang/Lee Min-hyung
Choi Ji Woo as Jung Yu-jin
Park Yong Ha as Kim Sang-hyuk
Park Sol Mi as Oh Che-lin

Number of Episodes: 20

Aired in:  KBS2

Synopsis:

Jun Sang (Bae Yong Jun) and Yu Jin (Choi Ji Woo) loved each other in high school.  Jun Sang got a car accident and lost his memory. Jun Sang became an architect and met a designer, Yu Jin, a few years later.  He didn’t know why but he felt that his heart got close to Yu Jin although he had a girlfriend.  Kim Sang Hyuk (Park Yong Ha) also loved Yu Jin and Jun Sang’s girlfriend was a friend of Yu Jin.  All these four people were interfered by one another when they wanted to claim their loved ones.  Eventually Jun Sang’s memory came back and found his true love.

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